Visual display unit

ABSTRACT

A visual display unit comprising a panel and housing with said housing enclosed by an aluminum extrusion, said extrusion houses at least one printed circuit board and light emitting diodes which are attached to said at least one printed circuit board, said light emitting diodes are insulated and attached to said at least one printed circuit board, a bracket and junction box are attached to said aluminum extrusion, with power coming through said junction box, sealant is used between said aluminum extrusion and said panel, light is projected through said panel and reflected out.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is claiming the benefit and filing date of thepreviously filed provisional application with the application No.60/313,093.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Appllicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

[0003] Not Appllicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to illuminated signs.

BACKROUND

[0005] In streets, public places and buildings, signs are installed toprovide people with directions or advertise a product or service.

[0006] Typically these signs consist of thick heavy and hollow boxesthat sometimes are difficult and cumbersome to install. Since the boxesare hollow, they have frequent problems with wind breakage and waterleakage. These boxes are illuminated from the inside out. Inside theboxes, fluorescent lamps or other bright lamps are placed and theirlight is projected to the outside of the box, therefore illuminating thestreet name or number, or the advertisement.

[0007] The light source requires a heavy use of power. Also theinstallation and maintenance is expensive, with frequent reparations andreplacement of lamps, due to their limited duration.

[0008] The advantages of the visual display unit is that the light isprojected thorough the edges and reflected out. This allows the sign tobe manufactured as a thin and lightweight sign that is easy to installand is resistant to windy conditions and watertight.

[0009] The installation of this type of sign will be quick andinexpensive.

[0010] Also this new sign uses a small amount of power, compared to atraditional fluorescent sign, therefore, this new sign can be used withbatteries or solar power systems. The type of light source used by thissign will ensure long usage before any repair or maintenance is done.

SUMMARY

[0011] It is the object of this invention to provide a sign that useslight emitting diodes as a source of light. It is another object of thisinvention to project the light from the light emitting diode through theedge of the panel sign. The light is projected out, by first deflectingthe light projected through the edge to a reflective material positionedbehind the panel, the deflected light strikes the reflective materialand projects outside the panel.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

[0012]FIG. 1-1. Represents a front view of the sign.

[0013]FIG. 1-2 Represents a top view of the sign

[0014]FIG. 1-3 Represents a side view of the sign

[0015]FIG. 2-1 Represents a sectional view of the sign, containing thepanel and the aluminum extrusion frame.

[0016]FIG. 2-2 Represents a sectional view of a double side panel.

[0017]FIG. 2-3 Represents a sectional view of a single side panel.

[0018]FIG. 3-1 Represents a view of the acrylic panel.

[0019]FIG. 3-2 Represents a close view of the prismatic pattern printedin the back of the acrylic panel.

[0020]FIG. 3-3 Represents a view of the acrylic panel with a reflectivefilm attached to the printed area.

[0021]FIG. 3-4 Represents a side view of an acrylic panel indented onone side and diagramming the reflection system.

[0022]FIG. 3-5 Represents a side view of an acrylic panel with areflective paint applied to the indented area.

[0023]FIG. 4-1 Represents an illuminated sign used to project light to abus shelter advertising box.

[0024]FIG. 4-2 Represents a sectional view of the illuminated sign in ashelter box.

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

[0025] 1 panel

[0026] 2 extrusion

[0027] 3 printed circuit board

[0028] 4 reflective film

[0029] 5 panel

[0030] 6 insulating channel

[0031] 7 bracket

[0032] 8 bolts

[0033] 9 junction box

[0034] 10 power source

[0035] 11 gasket

[0036] 12 light emitting diodes

[0037] 13 sealant

[0038] 14 indented panel

[0039] 15 reflective coating

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1-1 the light is reflected out of the panel (1).The panel (1) is encloded by an aluminum extrusion (2). The aluminumextrusion (2) houses the printed circuit boards PCB's with the lightemitting diodes LED's (3) as shown in FIG. 2-1. The light emittingdiodes are insulated from any contact with the metal of the extrusionchannel (2). The insulating channel (6) made out of plastic wraps aroundthe printed circuit boards (3) and prevents them from touching the metalcreating short circuit.

[0041] To hang or attach the sign to a pole, a bracket (7) is attachedto the aluminum extrusion (2) as shown in FIGS. 1-1 and 2-3. Also toconnect the aluminum extrusion sides, bolts (8) are used on each side ofthe sign. A junction box (9) is attached to the side of the aluminumextrusion (2) All the connections from the printed circuit boards (3)terminate at the junction box (9). The power from the outside (10) comestrough the junction box (9). The junction box (9) contains a fuse toprevent short circuits or power surge. To prevent water from enteringthe sign at the comers of the sign, a gasket (11) is placed in eachcomer.

[0042] Light from the light emitting diodes (12) FIG. 2-1 is projectedthrough the edge of the acrylic panel (1)

[0043] The light emitting diodes (12) are attached to the printedcircuit boards (3) and housed inside the aluminum extrusion (2). Thelight projected trough the panel (1) is reflected outside the sign.

[0044] To prevent water from entering into the sign, a sealing compound(3) is placed between the aluminum housing extrusion (2) and the acrylicpanel (1).

[0045] Light from the light emitting diodes (12) can be projectedthrough a double sided acrylic panel (1) as shown in FIG. 2-2 or througha single side panel as shown in FIG. 2-3. A double side panel has twoacrylic panels (1) with a prismatic pattern printed on the back of eachpanel. Each panel also has a reflective film (4) attached to the printedside. This combination will allow the light to be reflected outside ofthe acrylic panel (1) A single side sign has only one acrylic panel (1)with a prismatic print and reflective film. To reflect light in a moreefficient manner an alternative system is shown in FIGS. 3-4 and 3-5.Using an acrylic panel with indentations on one side (14) and applying aspecial reflective coating to the indented side (15) improvessignificantly the amount of light reflected.

1. The visual display unit comprising a housing and a translucent panel.2. The visual display unit according to claim 1 wherein said housing isan aluminum extrusion further comprising a light source.
 3. The visualdisplay unit according to claim 2 wherein said light source is an lightemitting diode.
 4. The visual display unit according to claim 1 whereinsaid panel includes a reflective coating.
 5. The visual display unitaccording to claim 4 wherein said reflective coating is a film.
 6. Thevisual display unit according to claim 5 wherein said film is anadhesive sheet.
 7. The visual display unit according to claim 5 whereinsaid film is painted on.
 8. The visual display unit according to claim 1wherein said panel is acrylic or plastic.
 9. The visual display unitaccording to claim 2 wherein said housing is attached to a junction box.10. The visual display unit according to claim 9 wherein said junctionbox includes at least one printed circuit board connector and at leastone fuse.
 11. The visual display unit according to claim 1 wherein saidhousing comprises at least one printed circuit board and at least oneLED.
 12. The visual display unit according to claim 11 wherein said LEDare embedded in printed circuit board.
 13. An internally illuminatedsign according to claim 1 wherein said housing has conjoined edges. 14.The visual display unit according to claim 13 wherein said conjoinededges further includes at least one gasket sandwiched between saidconjoined edges.
 15. The visual display unit according to claim 1wherein a sealant is sandwiched between said housing and said panel. 16.The visual display unit according to claim 1 wherein said panel can bedouble or single sided.
 17. The visual display unit according to claim16 wherein said panel contains a prismatic printed pattern or at leastone legend.
 18. The visual display unit according to claim 16 whereinsaid panel includes a plurality of perforations to reflect light. 19.The visual display unit comprising a housing wherein said housingincludes conjoined edges and said housing includes at least one gasketsandwiched between said conjoined edges, wherein said housing furtherincludes a LED light source and a printed circuit board, and double orsingle sided translucent panel wherein said translucent panel includes areflective film, perforations, indentations, and at least one junctionbox attached to said housing, wherein said junction box includes atleast one printed circuit board connector and at least one fuse.